Caisson settles under the snug covers that night with a content smile on her lips. Although it is much later than her normal bed time she is happy as a polar bear on ice. Gunner stayed well into ten o'clock as they snuggled on the couch with a fire crackling in front of them. She insisted that he go find a shirt that he left and take off his fancy one. However, she unsympathetically told him he had to keep the starched jeans on.

Gunner, too, lays in his bed with a smile, but for a very different reason. He had managed to smooth things over about his missing the painting date without telling her any of where he had been or what he had been doing. Even though secrets usually aren't his thing he is beginning to enjoy this one.

Now as the moon shines in the star light sky the couple each lay in their own beds thanking the Lord for the wonderful things that have come about in the last couple of weeks. Slowly they drift off to sleep with sweet dreams of the life that seems only a dream from where they stand right here.
***

For Gunner sleep the dream filled sleep doesn't last long as he is up with the chickens the next day ready to tackle the last chute. Once he gets it shining in new paint he and Colton get to place the finishing touches on everything and sit down to discuss a schedule. Their plan is to get this done by the end of the week, just four short days away.

That poses lots of time for Tiffany, Grace and Caisson to hang out and have some fun. That not only includes lots of crisp air walks, leisurely horseback rides, and trips to the play ground, but lots of cookie baking, and legging design sessions. Grace brings papers full of her hand-drawn design ideas almost everyday. She and Caisson will plan it out on leather and Grace watches as Caisson cuts it out while Tiffany DJs and keeps the hot chocolate coming with bright smiles.

In the weeks that follow the impromptu date more leggings are made, more business lingo discussed, and more fast food meals were eaten than ever before. Unfortunately, not all good things were happening in the mist of all the business. The once budding couple now spend more and more time caught up in their entrepreneur ventures and less and less time together.

"I just don't know what happen," Caisson says into the as she sits atop Joe. "Before we were close, maybe we didn't spend every minute together, but we at least talked. Now, I'm not sure that we even do that. Every time that either of us have spare time he suddenly disappears again. I mean, I'm trying not to think the worst, but you know it's kind of hard not to. Tiff says that he goes to the rodeo school and then eats and goes to bed only to get up and do it all over again. I guess I just miss him too much." 

Joe shakes his head making her giggle a little. "You don't think so, huh? Well, Joe, I hope you are right, bud." She closes her eyes and breathes in the cold air. "No more boy talk, though, it is time for the two of us to have a much over due race against the wind."

She continues on her short circular ride that brings her right back to barn and house. There she takes her time unsaddling Joe and feeding he and his mare buddy. She makes sure their water system is still working good before she strolls to the warmth of the house. Hanging her coat on the peg just inside the door she breathes in the sweet smell of pine wood in the fire place. As she moves to add another log to the flames a card with her name scrolled on it catches her eye.

As if in slow motion she picks it up and lifts the back open. Inside is a little note that says, "Some things take time, some things take an expert. Meet me at Avery and Bill's Jewelry. Oh, and you might want to dress up a bit. ;)"

With a giggle and bright smile she scampers through the house to her closet. Maybe, just maybe all this time it seems he has been too busy for her has come back to give him a slap in the face and he wants to make up for it. A chuckle escapes her as she listens to her own thoughts. "How mean of me," she murmurs.

After several minutes of searching through her closet she finds herself holding a peach colored maxi dress up against herself as she peers into the mirror. It has wide straps connecting to a solid peach botis before moving into a white and peach striped skirt. Satisfied with her choice she changes into it and straightens her hair to hang down her back.

Once she is in the dress she snaps a pearl necklace around her neck and straps a pair of wedge heels on her feet. Jewelry is not her best place in fashion, but every once in a while she tries to use it a little. She slips a heavy coat over her shoulders, grabs her keys and heads out the door. Nerves start to move in her as the tires crunch the gravel under her and the town comes into view with every passing mile.

What if this is all just a joke? After all, the sparks have exactly been starting a forest fire lately. She shakes her head. With those kinds of thoughts she will never make it to the parking lot let alone into the building. No, she just has to take this one mile at a time, one step at a time and one thought at a time.

Suddenly she finds herself in the parking lot of a homey small town shop. Just the one she is suppose to be at, but not quite the one that she would think she would find herself in, but then again things don't usually go as thought. With a deep breath she cuts the engine to her pickup and slides down onto the salted pavement.

One step. Two steps. One foot in front of the other.

Just as her wedges step onto the sidewalk in front of the store the door swings open. Little white twinkly lights shine through out the cozy store, but there is no sign of a person of any sort.